Unlock stunning photographs with the magic of negative space.

What Is Negative Space in Photography?

Negative space is all about the space around the main subject in a photo. The subject, or positive space, is what grabs your eye, but negative space is like a helpful sidekick, giving the image some breathing room that makes the subject pop even more. This space doesn’t have to be empty; it can have cool textures, patterns, or gradients that gently support the picture without taking the spotlight away from the main subject.


Have a look at the bonus in the video below for some more examples!

Use Negative Space to enhance and emphasise the subject

Why Is Negative Space Important in Photography?

  1. Think of negative space as a blank canvas that naturally guides your eye to the main subject.
  2. Balanced Composition: When you use negative space well, it creates a sense of balance and makes the photo look pretty good.
  3. Emotional Impact: Using negative space thoughtfully can make you feel calm, alone, or free.
  4. Simplicity: By cutting out distractions, negative space makes the image simpler, so the subject really pops.

How to Use Negative Space Effectively

1. Choosing the Right Background

  • Minimalistic Backdrops: Using simple, uncluttered backgrounds such as solid colours or gradients can really make the subject pop!
Use Solid Background colours

  • Natural scenes, like a clear blue sky, an open field, or a big body of water, can create lots of space around the subject, which makes it pop even more!

2. Framing Your Subject

  • Off-Centre Placement: Try using the rule of thirds to put your subject off-centre. This way, the space around it can make your photo really pop!

  • Symmetry and Balance: If you’re taking photos of buildings or art, symmetrical shots with balanced space on either side can be pretty eye-catching.

3. Playing with Depth of Field

  • Shallow Depth of Field: Blurring the background creates a smooth negative space, perfect for portraits.
  • Wide-Angle Lenses: In landscapes, wide-angle lenses help you capture a large negative space, making the scene feel bigger and more immersive.

4. Experimenting with Perspective

  • High and Low Angles: Try changing your shooting angle to add more negative space. A high angle could make a big sky pop, while a low angle can really make the foreground stand out.


  • Leading Lines: Use lines to guide the viewer’s gaze to the subject, all set against some nice negative space.

Examples of Negative Space Photography

Portrait Photography

Imagine someone standing against a plain wall. By using a wide aperture to blur the background and placing the subject off-centre, the wall transforms into a smooth negative space that really makes their expression pop.

Landscape Photography

Picture a solitary tree standing in a huge field. With a wide-angle lens and the tree off-centre, it creates a feeling of being alone and gives the scene a sense of vastness, with the sky and field acting as negative space.

Architectural Photography

Think of a skyscraper against a clear blue sky. By framing the building to take up only part of the image, the surrounding sky becomes a clean, negative space that really makes the building’s height and structure stand out.

Negative Space in Architectural Photography

Tips for Mastering Negative Space

  • Experiment with Focal Lengths: Try both wide-angle and telephoto lenses to discover how they influence the amount of negative space.

  • Leverage Colour Contrast: A brightly colored subject against a muted background can create a striking visual impact.

  • Add Movement: Incorporate subtle motion, such as drifting clouds or rippling water, to add depth to the negative space.
Add Movement

  • Tell a Story: Use negative space creatively to evoke a narrative. For instance, an empty bench in a vast park can suggest solitude or reflection.

  • Embrace Minimalism: Remove unnecessary elements to let the negative space shine, making your composition cleaner and more impactful.

Negative space is a pretty good tool that can really make a plain photo pop! If you know how to use it, you can make your photos look balanced and interesting, grabbing the viewer’s eye and making them feel something or tell a story. Try out different ways to use negative space and see what you can create.


Bonus: Creative Examples of Negative Space

Explore additional examples below of negative space photography to inspire your creativity and help you see everyday scenes in a new light.



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